Wicked Love

by Michelle Dare

  “Any causalities?” Schmitt asked.

  “Two that we know of,” Gabriel replied grimly. “Otto Kramer, the castle solicitor, and Timothy O’Brien, the former owner’s brother-in-law.”

  “That is very unfortunate.” Officer Schmitt turned to give several officers instructions in German and they raced off to follow his orders. “My officers will be looking for this Berta. The castle will be a crime scene but since weather conditions are still dangerous you are permitted to remain in a closed off part of the castle until the storm dies down. Some officers will remain here with you to provide additional security.”

  “Thanks,” Gabriel said tightly.

  With his arms around her, Gabriel walked with Jane to the fireplace. He sat her down on one of the chairs and helped her take off her torn coat. She was silent, her face pale with a blank expression. Likely she was in shock again.

  He took a seat beside her and reached for her hand. “You were really brave back there.”

  “Only because I knew you wouldn’t miss.” She turned to give him a small smile. “Thanks for saving my life.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Thanks for saving mine. Heidi. Who would have thought?”

  “That’s what she counted on,” Jane said. “Looking like the kind of person nobody would suspect.”

  Excited chatter from some of the officers caught his attention, and he glanced over at the far side of the hall. Two officers were escorting a shaken-looking Berta.

  “They found her,” Gabriel said.

  Jane got to her feet immediately and rushed over to give Berta a hug.

  Officer Schmitt walked over. “We found her in one of the secret passageways. She is afraid but seems unharmed. A medical team is on its way.”

  Gabriel stood up to shake Schmitt’s hand. “Thank you again.”

  “Of course. And I am sorry for your troubles,” Schmitt said. “Some officers will provide security and escort you and your girlfriend to your rooms. I suspect you will be able to leave the castle tomorrow when the storm has finally passed.”

  “Jane isn’t my…” Gabriel’s voice trailed off. Even if she wasn’t his, he desperately wanted her to be. “I’ve got some evidence you might find useful.” He pulled the family tree and the crumpled birth certificate out of his pocket to hand them both over to the officer. “Thanks again. For everything.”

  “This will help. Thank you.” Schmitt gave a nod and walked away.

  Jane released Berta and followed after some police officers who walked up to Gabriel.

  “I think they want us in our rooms while they gather evidence,” she said.

  They walked upstairs with the officers, and when Jane stopped in front of her door Gabriel took her hand and looked at her. After everything they had just gone through, he should have wanted space. She should have been breaking down. But they had both been through hell before. Their traumas seemed to have brought them closer. Closer to each other than they would be with anyone else. It was like Jane knew him better than anyone else did, and he wasn’t done learning everything he could about her. “Do you want to stay in my room?”

  “For the night?”

  “As long as you want,” he said, hoping, no matter how dangerous it was to want more.

  She smiled and nodded. “Lead the way, then.”

  Still holding her hand he guided her into his room, shutting the door behind him.

  “I guess we’re crazy for wanting to do this now,” he said.

  “There are so many worse things we could be doing. There’s nothing wrong with feeling what we’re feeling right now.” A blush stained her cheeks, subtly signaling her arousal. The embers of her desire started to glow behind her eyes and he heard Jane’s breath hitch ever so slightly.

  He was so in tune with her body now that he could sense even small changes. It was as if surviving hell together had bonded them completely. Gabriel didn’t know how he could let her go. How he could return to his dull existence without her in his life.

  “I want you,” he told her.

  “Good,” she said, moving so close to him that he felt every line of her body against his own. “Because I want you, too.”

  Jane tilted her head back, her eyes fluttering closed as she offered her mouth to him.

  She didn’t seem to realize that he had meant he wanted more than sex. For all he knew, this was the last time they’d ever be together. That filled his heart with pain. The fact that he could still hurt after all the tragedy he had gone through revealed the depths of his feelings for her.

  Only an intoxicating taste of her would ease the agony.

  He lowered his mouth to hers, a soft moan escaping her at the moment of contact. His lips brushed over hers tenderly at first. A feather-light kiss that gave him the chance to savor her slowly. But as he gripped her hips to pin her more tightly to him, Gabriel lost all sense of control.

  He swirled his tongue into her mouth, savoring the sweet taste of her. Her tongue met his, the kiss deepening as she surrendered to him.

  Breaking the kiss, she grabbed a condom from the nightstand and gave him a seductive smile. “I want to do it in front of the fire.”

  Gabriel pulled her into his arms and lifted her to start walking over to the bear skin rug in front of the fireplace.

  With a gasp, she said, “I can walk on my own.”

  “Yeah, but I wouldn’t get to hold you,” he said, gazing down at her. “And there’s no fun in that.”

  Jane laughed softly, wrapped her slender arms around his neck, and kissed him fiercely.

  He groaned, reluctantly ending the kiss to set her down on the soft fur in front of the fire.

  Before he got the chance to really take her in Jane was tearing off her clothes, baring her perfect body to him.

  He was hard instantly. She was so damn gorgeous he didn’t know where to start looking. Her full pink mouth caught his eye first. Then her small breasts that peaked into rosy pink nipples. The light from the fireplace lit up every line and curve of her body. Bathed her exposed skin in a golden hue as she sat up, propping herself up on her elbows. Without warning him she spread her legs, revealing her glistening flesh.

  He almost died right then. All the air escaped his lungs and his brain melted at the sight of that heavenly part of her. Gabriel swallowed hard, his erection beginning to ache.

  “Time for you to strip,” she said, giving him another seductive smile.

  At this rate, Jane could ask him to do anything and he’d do it. He was that turned on. Eager to get naked and join her, Gabriel quickly discarded his clothes.

  “You have the most incredible body,” she said, her gaze roaming appreciatively down his torso.

  “I try.” He flashed her a grin, tore open the condom wrapper, and sheathed himself with the latex.

  Part of him wanted to slow down. Make this last. Because there was a good chance this was their final time together. With the killer caught, the castle was still up for grabs. Once they settled back into their roles as legal rivals, this burgeoning relationship was as good as finished. It would only be made worse by the fact that he intended to win this case. The way any good lawyer would.

  But the other, more primal, side of him wanted to bury himself inside her. Get lost in Jane. Drown in the pleasure that he had only been able to find with her and no other woman.

  He got down on the bear skin rug with her, pressing a kiss to her soft mouth.

  When she came up for air, Jane said, “I want you on the rug.”

  Gabriel arched an eyebrow in response. “Oh yeah?”

  “I want to be on top this time.”

  “Can’t say no to that,” he said with a laugh as he stretched out on the fur.

  She moved to straddle him, their eyes meeting as she leaned forward to grip his shoulders. A wildfire blazed in her dark eyes, turning them brighter than the flames in the fireplace.

  Lust overtook his senses and he reached out to seize her hips firmly, his fingertips digging into her supple flesh.
Looking up at her like this was one hell of a view. Her hair fanned all around her, stopping right above her nipples. Suddenly she started to lick her lips, her tongue running over her pink mouth. Making those full, sensuous lips glisten.

  If he didn’t have her soon, he was going to explode. “Jane, you’re killing me here.”

  “Patience,” she said, her voice a seductive purr.

  A soft, satisfied sigh escaped her and she took the aching, throbbing length of him into her tight, slick heat.

  Pleasure jolted through him, making him groan through gritted teeth. All of the pent-up tension from the past several days of hell started to ripple outward. Faded away as the pleasure took over. Jane was the sole reason he had survived this. The only reason he had wanted to survive. Getting through his with her had given him meaning and purpose for the first time in years.

  Jane rocked against him, intensifying the pleasure as she moved. Her pace was steady. A rhythmic swivel of her hips.

  “Damn, you’re so beautiful,” he choked out.

  She moaned, riding him with abandon as she tossed her head back. Her speed of her pace increased and he sensed her giving in to the pleasure. Letting go of her fear to take whatever she wanted. And did it ever feel good.

  They were both searching for release with each other. Both desperate to grab hold of life again and never let it go. And while life was what he’d gained, it was Jane he had fought for. It was Jane he wanted.

  Suddenly she clenched around him, the pleasure gripping him so tightly that he knew nothing else. Only her. All he felt now was the sensation of being inside her tight, wet heat. The pressure of her thighs squeezing against him as her own pleasure rocked through her.

  His climax tore through him, hard and fast. Her breathless cries signaled her own release and she collapsed on top of him, her body shuddering.

  They lay on the fur together, with Gabriel holding her tightly to him until they both fell asleep.

  When he woke up it was early morning, the weakest rays of the sun streaming in through the window. They had made it through the night.

  He leaned over to kiss Jane’s forehead before getting up to take a shower and get dressed. Then he checked his phone. Wi-Fi was back. There were at least a dozen messages from his client and a lawyer from Otto’s legal firm. The lawyer had gotten wind of the tragedy and was taking over the castle inheritance case. After reading through the messages, he realized he had no choice but to call his client.

  He dialed Kyle’s number and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Mr. Westen, are you available?”

  “Yes I am, Mr. Ross,” Kyle murmured. “Got a call from a German lawyer a few hours ago. The story is starting to make it into American media. This is crazy. Are you hurt in any way?”

  “I’m fine,” Gabriel said, keeping his voice low so he didn’t wake Jane. She looked so beautiful, her naked body covered in nothing but a bear skin. There was something incredibly erotic about the sight.

  “Sorry to hear about the castle’s original lawyer,” Kyle said. “Gruesome business all around. Look, I appreciate the call, but I’m not liking the terms I’m seeing from this new lawyer. This fifty-percent deal isn’t going to work for me.”

  “I know you want all the shares of the castle, but you and Jane Westen have an equal claim,” Gabriel said, trying to stay focused.

  Jane stirred from her place on the bear rug and sat up with a yawn. “Good morning. What’s going on?”

  “Talking to my client,” he said to her.

  “Is that Jane?” Kyle asked. “Put her on. Let’s meet.”

  Sighing, Gabriel put the call on speaker. “Jane, this is your cousin. Kyle, this is Jane.”

  She got up, grabbed a cardigan from the floor, and put it on quickly. “Hello, Kyle. Great to meet you.”

  “Great to meet you, too. Sorry about the circumstances. Are you safe and sound, Jane?”

  “I’m safe,” she said, moving over to sit next to Gabriel.

  “Good to hear. Now, I want you both to hear my plans for the castle,” Kyle said. “I can’t settle for fifty percent of the castle.”

  “I hadn’t realized we were each being given half of the castle.” Jane said.

  “Things move quickly when heirs start coming out of the woodwork,” Kyle said. “Anyway, the lawyers have all arranged it. Right down the middle. Half yours. Half mine.”

  “I’m not forfeiting my half,” she said.

  “Well, I am,” Kyle said.

  “What? Hold on a second. Mr. Westen, what are you talking about?” Gabriel demanded.

  “I don’t want the place. I’m not owning a property that’s had a double murder, okay? It’s creepy, which means it’s put me off,” Kyle said. “I’m willing to sell my share.”

  “As your lawyer, I’m going to have to advise you to hold off and take your time with this,” Gabriel said.

  “I don’t care. I don’t want the place. I’ll sell my half to you if you want it, Jane,” Kyle said.

  “That’s generous, but I couldn’t afford it,” Jane said sadly.

  “I’ll give you the rock bottom price,” Kyle said. “I just want this thing off my hands.”

  “I’m sure I couldn’t afford even the lowest price,” she said.

  “If you want the castle off your hands that badly, what do you say about selling it to Jane for a dollar?” Gabriel asked. It was insane, of course, but he had to find out how badly Kyle wanted to be rid of Wintergarten.

  “Done. I’ll sign the paperwork and e-mail it to you. My half is Jane’s as soon as she signs and gives you a dollar bill, Mr. Ross. Give me five minutes,” Kyle said, and then hung up.

  Her mouth fell open. “No way. Is that for real?”

  “It’s for real. As long as you give me the dollar,” he said.

  “Wait…” Her eyes were bright and shining. “The castle is going to be mine.”

  “I don’t know how turning it into a hotel is going to work out considering… well, everything.”

  “Are you kidding? People love infamy and ghosts and murder,” she said. “They’ll get a kick out of this place. Plus, I can give some of the proceeds to Otto and Timothy’s families.”

  He wrapped his arm around her. “You’re an angel, Jane.”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “That’s not all you want to say.”

  “I’d like to help you run the place. As the castle’s lawyer,” he said.

  “I can’t afford you,” she said.

  “I’ll do it for free on one condition,” he said.

  “Yes. I agree to your condition.”

  “You haven’t even heard what it is,” he said.

  “I can guess. But in case I’m wrong, why don’t you tell me,” she said.

  He cupped her face between his hands and looked deep into her brown eyes. Those eyes he wanted to get lost in forever. “Be mine. My girlfriend.”

  She didn’t speak. Her response was to lean closer and kiss him with everything she had. The heat of her mouth burned away what was left of his doubt. Fear couldn’t get to them now. Nobody would hurt her ever again.

  When she pulled away she was smiling, her eyes glinting. “You’ve convinced me, Gabriel. I’m all yours.” She paused. “Is this the first case you’ve ever lost?”

  He laughed. “Are you kidding me? How does this count as a loss?”

  “The castle is mine.”

  His phone vibrated and he checked his messages. “Kyle has signed over the castle.”

  “That means it’s time for me to sign,” she said. “And time for you to lose.”

  “Well, I probably didn’t make partner,” he said, laughing.

  “That’s what you wanted?”

  “No. That’s what my parents wanted.” It was time for him to live for himself and not just his parents. He couldn’t keep living Jay’s life anymore. “What I want is to quit my firm, shack up in this castle with you, and never leave.”

  She wrapped her arm
s around him, making his heart race like crazy. He had survived and gotten the most incredible woman he had ever met. As she kissed him again, Gabriel realized that losing for the first time had been worth it.

  THE END

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  MANAGING THE BOSSES is an international bestselling series dipping into the lives of Alex Reid and Jamie Connors. Can a secretary really fall for her billionaire boss?

  Knight in Manhattan

  M.C. Cerny

  In the city that never sleeps, one man is the never-ending night. For the woman he is fated to save, it is only the beginning.

  Copyright

  Knight in Manhattan

  Copyright ©2020 M.C. Cerny

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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